In the Coronavirus pandemic, more attention is being paid to the psychological affects of kids not being able to get physical activity and interact with each other.  Since before COVID, Playworks has been helping kids to stay active and build valuable life skills through play.  And like all of us, they've had to adapt in 2020.

Matt Matthews of Playworks Michigan joins us to explain the importance of play for kids, and the ways that Playworks has pivoted, offering opportunities for physical interaction and play for students in person, as well as those in front of a screen.

More: https://www.playworks.org/playathome

Michigan Motors Forward is produced by JAG in Detroit Podcasts in collaboration with Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications.

https://jagindetroit.com/

https://tannerfriedman.com/

Michelle Wein is the director of research and regional initiatives at WIN, Michigan's Workforce Intelligence Network.  

She explains the research that WIN does, and the numbers they've looked at before and during the pandemic.   How has the labor market in Michigan been hit, and where do we stand now? Are these jobs coming back?

Michelle talks about the value of the Michigan Works program to help job seekers find new employment, as well as the ways WIN helps employers think about hiring decisions.

We look to the future - where are the job opportunities now, heading into 2021, and beyond?

What's her best advice for those seeking employment, and those seeking employees?

Finally, we look at COVID-19's immediate impact on the workforce, and dispel the myth that opening the economy and controlling the pandemic are mutually exclusive.

Resources:

Michigan Workforce Intelligence Network: https://winintelligence.org/

Michigan Works! https://www.michiganworks.org/

Michigan Motors Forward is produced by JAG in Detroit Podcasts in collaboration with Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications.

https://jagindetroit.com/

https://tannerfriedman.com/

The Cystic Fibrosis community has been "social distancing" since before the term even existed.  Having a genetic disease that causes chronic and fatal lung infections causes a need for CF patients to remain six feet apart from one another.

Laura Bonnell has two daughters with CF, and that motivated her to create The Bonnell Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis.  This September 26th, they will be hosting their annual Night of Hope.  Like many organizations, the event has gone virtual.  In this case, however, this format allows much more flexibility and inclusion among the CF community.

Today, we preview the Night of Hope, with its numerous musicians, artists, and prizes available for attendees.

We also take a look at what the medical community has learned from Cystic Fibrosis, and how those lessons have informed the battle against COVID-19.  Mask wearing, social distancing, and accelerated clinical trials have a lot in common with Cystic Fibrosis treatment.

Resources:

Night of Hope: https://thebonnellfoundation.org/event/night-of-hope-celebration/

The Bonnell Foundation Website: https://thebonnellfoundation.org/

Laura's Podcast, Living with Cystic Fibrosis: https://livingwithcysticfibrosis.simplecast.com/

Michigan Motors Forward is produced by JAG in Detroit Podcasts in collaboration with Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications.

https://jagindetroit.com/

https://tannerfriedman.com/